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HUMAN SERVICES
Future Vision for Redmond: Human Services
The City works as a partner with schools, businesses, service providers, and other organizations and jurisdictions to help strengthen a human services network that provides vulnerable persons the food, shelter, job training, child care, and other services they need to become more independent.
The Human Services Element describes how the City’s efforts in planning, funding, coordinating, and improving human services’ delivery contribute to reach community goals and enrich the quality of life in Redmond. It defines the City’s roles and describes many tools used to understand and address Redmond residents’ needs for human services. A few related tools are part of other Comprehensive Plan elements, such as Housing.
When people think about the kinds of services their city offers, they often think of roads, water, and police and fire protection but probably not human services – services provided directly to persons having trouble meeting their basic needs for survival, employment, social support such as counseling, health, safety, and access to services. But building and supporting an infrastructure for dealing with a continuum of human needs is as important as the physical infrastructure of roads and bridges. A city’s vitality depends on the degree to which individuals’ potential is developed. An effective human services delivery system is a crucial component of any healthy community.
The City of Redmond’s primary role is as a catalyst to help build and sustain a comprehensive and affordable safety net of human services for residents whose income does not permit them to buy services in the marketplace. The City also identifies needs, plans long-range actions, designs effective and efficient systems to deliver services, cultivates resources, educates about local needs and available services, and funds programs. Redmond sees its role as being one player on a team working cooperatively to maximize resources to address local needs.
YWCA Family Village, transitional housing (courtesy of YWCA Seattle-King-Snohomish County)
Implementing Redmond’s role is becoming increasingly challenging. Multiple forces continue to put pressure on human services in Redmond. Each year for 10 years, increasing numbers of residents have accessed services supported by the City. Economic downturns have pushed more people into the system and have lessened the financial resources available to support the system. Responding to demographic changes related to the age and ethnic and cultural diversity of residents in Redmond has added an additional layer of responsibility to a system that was already fragile. The importance of the City’s actively and aggressively carrying out the policies outlined in this plan has never been more vital.
Support the provision of a continuum of human services, from preventive to remedial, to help clients achieve the greatest possible level of independence and to prevent further or more serious problems in the future.
Encourage agencies serving Redmond residents to make their services as accessible as possible.
Work with others throughout King County to determine potential areas for cooperative planning, funding, and administrative oversight of human services systems and programs wherever there is promise of a reasonable return on the investment of resources.
Promote increased awareness of local need for human services through community education and support a stronger and more coordinated local response from the faith, business, school, and service communities.
Monitor changes in local human services needs and priorities in an ongoing way and alter the City’s response as appropriate.
Work to increase the base of both public and private resources to support programs providing human services.
Provide assistance through federal Community Block Grant funds to rehabilitate housing for low- and moderate-income property owners to protect their health and safety and prevent deterioration of neighborhoods.
